LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Facing a nationally-ranked team for the second time in as many days, the UCF men's basketball team came up just short against No. 18 Kansas State on Friday evening at the Old Spice Classic, falling 73-71 in overtime. The Knights (2-2) had the opportunity to send the game into a second overtime, but senior guard Dave Noel (Boynton Beach, Fla./Boynton Beach) could not connect on a desperation 3-point attempt.
UCF will conclude the eight-team tournament on Sunday, facing Penn State in consolation bracket play at 11 a.m.
The Knights had the chance to win the contest with the game tied at 61 with five seconds left in regulation, but junior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) missed the front end of a one-and-one.
Kansas State (4-1) made seven free throws in overtime. UCF got within two points with seven seconds to play in the extra session after senior guard Chip Cartwright (Houston, Texas/Phillis Wheatley) made one of two foul shots. Following a missed free throw by the Wildcats' Darren Kent, Noel's long 3-point attempt hit the rim as the buzzer sounded.
UCF trailed by 13 with eleven minutes to play in the game, but rallied with a 13-3 run to get back into the contest. Taylor nailed a pair of triples during the spurt.
"We made some tremendous plays to give us a chance to win the game," said UCF head coach Kirk Speraw. "You cannot ask for more from an effort standpoint."
Taylor finished with 20 points and seven boards. Noel scored 15 points and had three steals and O'Donnell scored 14 points.
Kansas State was led by Michael Beasley, who finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds.
UCF opened the game on a 9-2 run. The Knights shot 41.7 percent in the opening stanza, but the Wildcats rallied to take a 27-26 edge into intermission behind 15 first-half points from Beasley.
The Knights played No. 19 Villanova to open the event on Thursday. UCF shot 42.6 percent overall for the game versus Kansas State, but shot just 61.1 percent at the line (11-of-18).
The Wildcats finished with a 43-33 edge on the glass. Kansas State shot 39.7 percent overall. Jacob Pullen scored 19 points in the win.
UCF's contest with Penn State on Sunday will be televised live nationally on ESPNU.
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